September 2023 Mechanical Engineering Blog
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September 15, 2023
Toyota Unveils Futuristic Lunar Rover That Will Utilize Regenerative Fuel Cell Tech
Toyota Unveils Futuristic Lunar Rover That Will Utilize Regenerative Fuel Cell Tech
Several firms are looking to capitalize on the growth of the aerospace industry. Such is the case for Toyota who recently started developing a revolutionary crewed lunar rover set to be launched into space to the Gateway lunar space station in the late 2020s. Toyota will be working closely with The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to develop the rover. Toyota is planning on incorporating regenerative fuel cell technology to power the lunar cruiser. The technology will consist of a sustainable fuel system that is able to produce hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis using water and solar energy. The fuel cell is expected to provide power in the 14-day lunar nights. Water will likely need to be sent to the moon in the early stages of the rover’s operation, however, It is hoped that moon ice water could provide sufficient amounts of the resource to power the rover or alternatively it may also be possible to mine water on the moon with future technological advancements. The Toyota lunar cruiser will be able to carry 2 people for up to 42 days and it is expected to have a lifespan of about a decade. Learn more here.
September 30, 2023
The U.S Department of Energy is Racing to Develop Fusion Reactor
The U.S Department of Energy is Racing to Develop Fusion Reactor
The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced that they are working diligently to create the world’s first commercial fusion reactor. The U.S is currently supporting various pilot projects from various companies across the country. The firms are experimenting with different methods to create fusion energy, everything from lasers to magnets, and many other designs are being tested. The hope in taking this approach is to increase the likelihood of success, there is no guarantee that any specific company will be successful, however taking this approach increases the odds of achieving commercial fusion energy. Scientists have discussed the potential of fusion energy for decades, expressing that it is much more efficient, less wasteful, and less destructive than its fission counterpart. If fusion energy were to become viable it would mean the creation of limitless amounts of clean energy to power our entire society. The most promising sign of success came in December 2022 when inertial fusion facility Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) achieved fusion ignition by utilizing 192 lasers to collapse a pellet of deuterium and tritium for 100 trillionths of a second. A net energy gain was created during this very brief period. 8 months later they achieved ignition again with an even larger net energy gain. Fusion energy is getting closer to becoming a reality and the U.S hopes to lead the way by creating a commercial nuclear fusion reactor within the next 10 years. Learn more here.
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